Following the acquisition of a large part of his bentwood (furniture) collection by the Republic of Austria and the City of Vienna, Alexander von Vegesack, the founding director of the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, invested the proceeds in the Domaine de Boisbuchet - Centre International de Recherche et d’Education Culturelle et Agricole (C.I.R.E.C.A). Alexander calls the activities he carries out at the Domaine de Boisbuchet "Culture at Agriculture", since what is practised there is culture and farming, the basis of our civilisation.

In cooperation with Vitra Design Museum and the Centre Georges Pompidou, CIRECA has been putting on an international summer academy at Domaine de Boisbuchet since 1996. The international summer workshops are offered from July through to mid-September; the courses are led by renowned designers, architects and artists who live and work together with the participants for a length of six to ten days. 

Concept

The goal of the workshops is not to design a “perfect” product but rather to provide insights into the design process and the associated challenges of rational thinking, creativity and manual skills. The programme places an emphasis on practice-oriented, creative work, complemented by lectures and discussions. The spectrum of topics extends from product design, graphic arts, photography, architecture, and exhibition design to the creation of jewellery. The courses incorporate experimental approaches as well as mechanical craftsmanship.

More detailed information about each workshop is available under www.boisbuchet.org and in the events section.

Target group/ Conditions

The workshop programme is open to anyone interested in design (18 and older): designers, architects, artists, graphic designers, museum educators, digital media designer, photographers, craftspeople etc. as well as trainees in their respective fields. We also highly recommend the courses to employees of design oriented companies who work in the areas of marketing/communication, product development and human resources. Amateurs are also welcome to attend/participate in most of the workshops. Language of instruction is English.

Outline of the week

The length of the individual workshop varies between six and ten days. The day of arrival is Sunday; participants arrive in Boisbuchet in the early evening. The workshop begins on Monday morning after an introduction to the topic. Subsequently, ideas are developed that will be realised during the following days. The results of the workshop will be presented on the last day. The course ends on Saturday, or alternatively on Wednesday or Thursday of the following week, after a final group breakfast.

Accommodation

Participants are housed in the "Dépendance", the previous residence of the estate manager. Lodging is provided in spacious dormitories. The quiet and freedom offered by the natural setting are what give Boisbuchet its particular charm and appeal. Back in the 19th century, a landscape park was laid out at Boisbuchet featuring numerous, often rare types of plants. It seamlessly passes through the hilly woods and across the meadows where horses, donkeys and sheep graze. Today the estate is run according to ecological principles and the feeding of human guests and animal residents is largely provided from resources produced on site.